Making a call from an address list or a call history list

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus of managing a phone device of a personal digital assistant (PDA) is provided. In one example of the present invention, the PDA retrieves a call history list from a stored memory location, the call history list including a call history list record. The PDA then displays at least a portion of the call history list on a screen of the PDA. The call history list preferably includes phone numbers and names associated with those phone numbers. In another example, the method further includes displaying call details of a selected call history list record. The call details preferably includes a date, a timestamp, and a duration.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to telecommunications and, moreparticularly, to providing phone applications in a portable computersystem.

2. Discussion of Background

Personal computer systems have become common tools in modern society. Toorganize their lives, many personal computer users use personalinformation management applications such as an address book and a dailyorganizer on their personal computers. Although such applications haveproven useful for personal information management, their utility islimited by the fact that the person must be sitting at their personalcomputer system to access the information.

To remedy this limitation, many palmtop computers, electronic organizersand other handheld devices, commonly known as personal digitalassistants (“PDA's”) have been introduced. A PDA is a computer that issmall enough to be held in the hand of a user and runs personalinformation management applications such as an address book, a dailyorganizer, and electronic notepads. These applications make people'slives easier.

The most popular brand of PDA is the Palm™ (not shown). However, thePalm™ is much more than a simple PDA. A Palm™ is small, slim, device,about the size of your wallet, can hold 6000 addresses, 5 years ofappointments, 1500 to-do items, 1500 memos, 200 e-mail messages, and canrun many different software applications.

The front panel of the Palm™ is a large LCD screen, which istouch-sensitive and allows a user to enter and manipulate data. By usinga stylus to interact with a touch-sensitive screen, a user may easilynavigate through a host of various software applications. A stylus isused to interact with information on a screen in much the same way as amouse on a desktop personal computer.

Many PDA's offer Internet connectivity, as well as a vast array ofhardware and software choices. PDA's have evolved into a new kind ofhandheld device that people use to instantly manage all kinds ofinformation, from email, to medical data, to stock reports.Unfortunately, to date, PDA's have had only modest success in themarketplace, due to their high price tags, as well as their usefulalthough limited applications.

In addition to being somewhat limited, many PDA applications havegenerally not been available in the PDA's counterpart—the mobile phone.Mobile phone manufacturers have taken the approach of trying tointegrate PDA functionality into their mobile phones. This approach hasseveral disadvantages. To fulfill their primary function of efficientlymaking phone calls, mobile phones are geared toward a different featureset from PDA'S. For example, as one of the design aims for mobile phonesis ever-smaller size, Internet access is compromised. Mobile phones arean unattractive Internet access option because the screen on a mobilephone is typically much smaller than that of a PDA. A mobile phone cantypically display only a small fraction of the amount information that aPDA can display.

Generally, many applications that are user-friendly on a PDA would becumbersome in a mobile phone environment. Additional examples of suchapplications include inputting an address list and displaying a detailedrecord of calls. A mobile phone is therefore inherently unsuitable fornavigating through even the simplest of PDA applications.

PDA's and mobile phones have been manufactured to meet different designaims. PDA's are primarily designed to provide personal informationmanagement in a small, portable device. Mobile phones are primarilydesigned for efficiently making phone calls while on the go. A mobilephone environment is generally not geared for running PDA softwareapplications, including anything more than the lowest level of graphics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that what is needed is an efficient system forintegrating mobile phone functionality into a palmtop environment.Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing amethod and apparatus for integrating mobile phone functionality into apersonal digital assistant (PDA). It should be appreciated that thepresent invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as anapparatus, a system, a device, a process or a method. Several inventiveembodiments of the present invention are described below.

In one embodiment, a method of managing a phone device of a PDA isdisclosed. The PDA retrieves a call history list from a stored memorylocation, the call history list including a call history list record.The PDA then displays at least a portion of the call history list on ascreen of the PDA. The call history list preferably includes phonenumbers and names associated with those phone numbers.

In another embodiment, a method further includes displaying call detailsof a selected call history list record. The call details preferablyincludes a date, a timestamp, and a duration.

In still another embodiment, a PDA is disclosed that includes a phonedevice. The phone device comprises a selection mechanism configured toallow selection of a list having at least one list record; a displaydevice configured to display at least a portion of the list and to allowselection of a list record; and a call device configured to initiate aphone call using a phone number associated with a selected list record.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a more convenient andefficient system for combining phone functionality with PDAfunctionality. Among other things, a user may utilize traditional mobilephone applications without having to deal with mobile phoneinconveniences. A computer environment is described for softwareapplications that require more robust computer systems and graphicscapabilities than a typical mobile phone can provide. The computerenvironment that is described not only fulfills these requirements, butalso has palm-size portability. Other embodiments, disclosed in detailbelow, illustrate how the present invention provides phone applicationsthat are ideally applicable to the method and apparatus of the presentinvention.

The present invention is not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed herein, namely a method, an apparatus, and a computer-readablemedium. Rather the invention may encompass other features, embodimentsand alternatives which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be readily understood by the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Tofacilitate this description, like reference numerals designate likestructural elements.

FIG. 1 shows a personal digital assistant (PDA), which incorporates aphone device feature, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows screen shot on the PDA of FIG. 1 of a list having at leastone list record, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a screen shot of a call history list, which includes atleast one list record and a selected name, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a screen shot of call details of a selected name from acall history list, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a screen shot of a call history list, which includes atleast one list record and a selected phone number, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a screen shot of a call history list and address details ofa selected phone number, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for managing a phone device of a PDA,such as that shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of a method for managing a phone deviceof a PDA, such as that shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system for a PDA,such as that shown in FIG. 1, upon which an embodiment of the inventionmay be implemented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An invention is disclosed for a method and an apparatus for integratingmobile phone functionality into a personal digital assistant (PDA). Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be understood, however, to one skilled in the art, that the presentinvention may be practiced without some or all of these specificdetails. In other instances, well known process operations have not beendescribed in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the presentinvention.

General Overview

FIG. 1 shows a personal digital assistant (PDA), which incorporates aphone device feature, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. Examples of a PDA include palm style computers, such as aPalm IIITM, Palm VTM, or Palm VIITM, organizers, manufactured by 3COMCorporation. Other embodiments of the invention include Windows CETMhandheld computers, other handheld computers, and other personal digitalassistants.

The Palm™ and its operating environment are used herein to illustratevarious aspects of the present invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention may be practiced on other devices,including other Palm™ models, PDA'S, computer devices, PC's, notebooks,etc.

The PDA 100 shown in FIG. 1 is preferably a combination of a processorand memory, having a portable energy source, and being incased in PDAhousing 130. In one example, the PDA housing 130 is made of alightweight, durable plastic material, and is ergonomically designed tobe held in the palm of one hand. A PDA 100 combines computing,telephone/fax, and networking features, and can function as a cellularphone, fax sender, and personal organizer. A PDA 100 is preferablypen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This use ofa stylus means that a PDA 100 preferably incorporates handwritingrecognition features. In another embodiment, a PDA 100 can react tovoice input by using voice recognition technologies.

The PDA 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of hard buttons 128 anda display device 132 fixed in the PDA housing 130. The display device132 may be provided with a graphical user interface that allows a userto select and alter displayed content using a stylus. A plurality ofsoft buttons 126 for performing automated or pre-programmed functionsmay be provided on a portion of the display device. In one embodiment, asoft button 126 is a tap recognizer configured to initiate apredetermined routine when a user taps the soft button 126. In analternative embodiment, the display device 132 also includes a Graffiti™writing section 134 for tracing alphanumeric characters as input.

Structural Overview

As shown in FIG. 1, a call device 101 is active on the display device132. A phone device in the PDA 100 runs the call device 101. The phonedevice is preferably software, hardware, or combination thereof thatallows a user to perform functions of a mobile phone. Such mobile phonefunctions may include, for example, dialing phone numbers, placing phonecalls, receiving phone calls, and receiving voicemail. When the PDA 100is performing functions of a mobile phone, a mobile phone indicator 122,preferably located near the top portion of the screen of the PDA 100, isactivated.

When the call device 101 is displayed on the screen of PDA 100, the PDA100 preferably indicates by a phone status icon 124 that the call device101 is in dialer mode. The call device 101 preferably includes a dialerpad 102, which allows a user to input numbers, letters, punctuation, orother symbols into the call device 101. Digits may be inputted, forexample, to dial a phone number or to load a phone number into a memoryof the PDA 100. Letters may be inputted, for example, to load a person'sname, address, or other information into memory of the PDA 100.

The call device 101 of FIG. 1 is displayed at a time when the calldevice 101 is in the process of initiating a phone call. In other words,FIG. 1 shows a screen shot of the call device 101 at a time when thecall device 101 is in dialing mode.

A name 104 of a person preferably is displayed near the top portion ofthe call device 101 to indicate that a phone number dialed has beenrecognized by the PDA 100. In one embodiment, upon initiating the phonecall, the PDA 100 searches in memory for a name associated with thedialed phone number. In FIG. 1, “Mindy Chahal-w” is the name that isrecognized by the PDA 100. In this example, the PDA 100 is attempting tocontact a device that is indicated to be associated with Mindy Chahal ather work. A dialer status icon 110 is preferably included near the topportion of the call device 101 to indicate to the user that the calldevice 101 is in the process of initiating the phone call.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows other features that may be initiated inthe call device 101. A user may initiate these other applications bypressing a button icon, such as a save button 114, a note button 116, amute button 118, or an end button 120. User activation of the Savebutton 114 saves the phone number associated with a call the user iscurrently engaged to the address book. User activation of the notebutton 116 activates an in-call note taking service. User activation ofthe mute button 118 mutes the caller at the other end of the line (othercaller). This muting which keeps the other caller from hearing anyconversation initiated at the users side of the conversation. Useractivation of the end button 120 terminates the call that the user iscurrently participating.

Where a user of the PDA 100 has received a voicemail message, avoicemail indicator 112 preferably appears near the top portion of thescreen of the PDA 100. The call device 101 of the PDA 100 preferably hasat the top of the screen a signal strength indicator 106 and a batterycharge indicator 108. The signal strength indicator 106 shows a relativequality and strength of a signal that may be transmitted in a mobilephone network in which the call device 101 is located. The batterycharge indicator 108 shows a relative amount of energy remaining in thebattery of the PDA 100.

Structural Overview

FIG. 2 shows screen shot on the PDA of FIG. 1 of a list 201 having atleast one list record 203, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. A user may easily navigate through variousapplications of the PDA 100. Such applications include a call device 101and a list 201. Navigation through different screens of theseapplications may be performed in several different ways. In oneembodiment, the user presses a hard button a given number of times on afront panel of the PDA 100 to navigate through applications of the phonedevice. In another embodiment, the user taps the phone status icon 124in the top-right corner to show names of different applications orscreens available. As shown in FIG. 2, these different applications mayinclude a “Dialer” application, a “Outgoing” calls list application, andan “Received” call list application. These applications provideadditional functionality to the phone device of the PDA 100. The presentinvention, however, is not limited to these specific embodiments.

A list 201 may be of several types. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, thelist 201 is a call history list, and the list records 203 are callhistory list records. The call history list of FIG. 2 is one specificexample of a list 201. A call history list preferably contains callhistory list records of incoming, outgoing, missed, or received calls.Another type of list is an address list (not shown) having at least oneaddress list record of phone numbers and names associated with thosephone numbers 204.

The list 201 of FIG. 2 has call history list records that have phonenumbers 204 and names 202 associated with those phone numbers 204. Theembodiment of FIG. 2 shows a call history list of missed calls. A missedcall is an incoming call that was not answered by the user.

Where an incoming or outgoing call can be matched with a phone number204 in memory, the phone number 204 is shown in the list record 203 ofthe call history list. Where an incoming or outgoing call can be matchedwith a name 202 in memory, the name 202 is also shown in the list record203 of the call history list. This matching occurs when a name 202 ispreviously stored in memory, such as in an address book of the PDA 100,and is associated with the phone number 204. When the phone number 204is identified in the address book, the associated name 202 is includedin the appropriate call history list record. Where an incoming oroutgoing call does not have a name 202 associated with a phone number inmemory, the call history list preferably stores an “unnamed” list record208.”

A set of scroll arrows 206 is another preferred feature of the list 201.The scroll arrows 206 allow a user to scroll up and down through thelist 201 if an entire list 201 cannot fit on the screen of the PDA 100.

FIG. 3 shows a screen shot of a call history list, which includes atleast one list record 203 and a selected name 304, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. The phone status icon 124 inFIG. 3 indicates that the phone device is presently showing a callhistory list of received calls. The list 201 is shown as it preferablyappears on a display device of a phone device in a PDA 100. When anincoming call cannot be identified by a phone number 204, the callhistory list preferably contains a list record 203 with an unavailableID indicator 302.

Once a call history list is displayed, as in FIG. 3, the user mayinitiate functions of the phone device by interacting with the screenthrough a stylus. The PDA 100 preferably includes selection mechanismthat recognizes when part of a list 201 has been selected. In oneembodiment, the user may tap on a selected name 304 if the user wants toview details of a selected call. By tapping the screen of the displaydevice of the PDA 100, the user triggers a tap recognizer in the PDA100. A tap recognizer is hardware, software, or combination thereof. Inthis example, the tap recognizer is configured to sense that theselected name 304 has been chosen. A rectangle preferably then appearsaround the selected name 304.

FIG. 4 shows a screen shot of call details 401 of a selected name 304from a call history list, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. This screen appears when the user taps on a listrecord 203 where the name has been highlighted. The call details 401 fora selected list record 203 preferably includes the following: a phonenumber 204 identifying an outside calling device to which the presentphone device was, at one time, connected; a name 202 associated with thephone number 204; a date stamp 406 for the date of connection to amobile phone network; a timestamp 408 for the time of day the call wasreceived or initiated; and a duration 410 that the phone device wasconnect to a mobile phone network.

In the addition the screen for the call details 401 preferably includesa done button 412 and a delete button 414. The done button 412, whenactivated, takes the phone device back to the preceding call historylist. The delete button 414, when activated, removes from memory thelist record 203 that corresponds to the selected name 364.

The present invention, however, is not limited to the particulararrangement of FIG. 4 for the display of call details 401. The calldetails 401, for example, may include simply a phone number 204 and anassociated name 202. Alternatively, the call details 401 may include, inaddition to what is shown in FIG. 4, a street address, an email address,and an alternative phone number. The particular information displayed inthe call details 401 depends on user preferences, information stored inmemory, or combination thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a screen shot of a call history list, which includes atleast one list record 203 and a selected phone number 502, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates anotherexample of how the user may initiate a function of the phone device byinteracting with the screen through a stylus. For example, the user maytap on a selected phone number 502 if the user wants to initiate thecall device 101 of the phone device. The tap recognizer of the PDA 100senses the selected phone number 502 has been tapped. A rectanglepreferably appears around the selected phone number 502.

The call device 101 may be triggered upon tapping a selected phonenumber 502 in the call history list. FIG. 1, discussed above, shows anexample of the screen that is displayed upon tapping a selected phonenumber 502. The call device 101 is displayed and a phone call issimultaneously initiated to the selected phone number by tapping onselected phone number 502. A phone call 502 is initiated by attemptingto contact a device associated with the selected phone number 502. Inother words, a wireless signal is transmitted into a mobile phonenetwork, wherein the wireless signal carries required data to contact adevice associated with the selected phone number 502.

FIG. 6 shows a screen shot of a call history list and address details602 of a selected phone number 502, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates yet another example of how theuser may initiate a function of the phone device by interacting with thescreen. The user may tap and hold on a selected phone number 502 if theuser wants to view address details 602 of the corresponding list record203. Address details 602 preferably includes the selected phone numberand any other phone numbers that may be associated with the name for theselected phone number 502. In the example of FIG. 6, three phonenumbers, including the selected phone number 502 displayed on the mainscreen, are included in the address details 602. Once the addressdetails are shown on the display device, the user preferably taps thenumber that the user wants to call. The call device 101 is thentriggered, as discussed above with respect to the discussion of FIG. 5.In an alternative embodiment, the address details 602 includes otheruser-defined information, such as fax numbers, nicknames, streetaddresses, etc.

The foregoing description includes a discussion of applications using acall history list. Another type of list is an address list (not shown),as discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. In one embodiment, an addresslist includes a predefined directory of phone numbers and namesassociated with those phone numbers. The directory can be organizedalphabetically, or chronologically based on date of entry. It shouldappreciated by one of ordinary skill that the applications discussedabove are readily applicable to an address list, a call history, or someother type of list that contains a set of similarly formattedinformation.

Process Overview

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for managing the phone device of a PDA100, such as that shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. The method starts in step 702 in which a list 201is retrieved from a stored memory location in a PDA 100. The list 201includes at least one list record 203, as previously described. Forexample, a user taps the phone status icon 124 to display a set of listsavailable. The user selects a desired list from the set, which mayinclude, for example, a call history list and an address list. The PDA100 then retrieves this selected list from a memory of the PDA 100.

The PDA 100 responds in step 704 by displaying a portion of the listrecord 203 on a screen of the PDA 100. For example, a display devicedisplays a portion of a call history list or a portion of an addresslist on the screen of the PDA 100.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of a method for managing a phone deviceof a PDA 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The method starts in step 802. Method steps 802 and 804 aresubstantially similar to method steps 702 and 704, respectively, of FIG.7. Both the methods of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are preferably implemented inone or more PDA 100 programs or processes.

The method of FIG. 8 enters a decision operation 806, where it isdetermined whether details of a selected list record is to be displayed.If details of a selected list record is to be displayed, then thefollowing steps depend on whether the details of a selected phone number502 or a selected name 304 are to be displayed. This determinationbetween selected phone number 502 and selected name 304 is indicated bydecision operation 808. For example, a user may tap and hold on aselected phone number 502. In step 810, address details 602 of thecorresponding list record 203 are then displayed, as discussed abovewith reference to FIG. 6. In another example, a user may tap on a namein a call history list. In step 812, call details 401 of thecorresponding call history list are then displayed, as discussed abovewith reference to FIG. 3.

If, in operation 806, details of a selected list record is not to bedisplayed, the phone device may determine, in operation 814, whether aphone call is to be initiated. If a phone call is not to be initiated,then the PDA 100 continues, in step 804, to display at least a portionof the list on a screen of the PDA 100. If, however, a phone call is tobe initiated, then in step 816 a phone call is initiated in a mobilephone network. For example, a user may tap on a selected phone number502. In a preferred embodiment, the call device 101 of the phone deviceis then triggered and a phone call is simultaneously initiated, asdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 5.

After a phone call has been initiated, a user may or may not want todisplay the list 201 again. Such a determination by the phone device isindicated by the decision operation 818. If the list 201 is to bedisplayed, then the PDA 100 returns to step 804 and displays at least aportion of the list on a screen of the PDA 100. If, however, the list201 is not to displayed, the process is done.

Hardware Overview

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system 900 for aPDA 100, such as that shown in FIG. 1, upon which an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented. The preferred embodiment is implementedusing one or more computer programs running on a portable computer, suchas a PDA 100. Thus, in this embodiment, the computer system 900 is a PDA100.

Computer system 900 includes a bus 902 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information, and a processor 904 coupled with bus 902for processing information. Computer system 900 also includes a mainmemory 906, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamicstorage device, coupled to bus 902 for storing information andinstructions to be executed by processor 904. Main memory 906 also maybe used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed by processor904. Computer system 900 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 908or other static storage device coupled to bus 902 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor 904. A storage device 910,such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus902 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 900 may be coupled via bus 902 to a display 912, such asa liquid crystal display (LCD), for displaying information to a computeruser. An input device 914 is a touch-sensitive LCD that interprets bysensing contact on the LCD, and is coupled to bus 902 for communicatinginformation and command selections to processor 904. Another type ofinput device 914 includes alphanumeric and other keys, and is coupled tobus 902 for communicating information and command selections toprocessor 904. Still another type of user input device is cursor control916, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys forcommunicating direction information and command selections to processor904 and for controlling cursor movement on display 912. This inputdevice typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis(e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specifypositions in a plane.

The invention is related to the use of computer system 900 for providingmobile phone applications in a PDA 100. According to one embodiment ofthe invention, mobile phone applications are provided by computer system900 in response to processor 904 executing one or more sequences of oneor more instructions contained in main memory 906. Such instructions maybe read into main memory 906 from another computer-readable medium, suchas storage device 910. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in main memory 906 causes processor 904 to perform the processsteps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitrymay be used in place of or in combination with software instructions toimplement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor 904 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks,such as storage device 910. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, suchas main memory 906. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copperwire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 902.Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves,such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red datacommunications.

Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic-tape, or any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punchcards, papertape, anyother physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM,a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave asdescribed hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 904 forexecution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on amagnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over atelephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 900 canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitterto convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detectorcoupled to bus 902 can receive the data carried in the infra-red signaland place the data on bus 902. Bus 902 carries the data to main memory906, from which processor 904 retrieves and executes the instructions.The instructions received by main memory 906 may optionally be stored onstorage device 910 either before or after execution by processor 904.

Computer system 900 also includes a communication interface 918 coupledto bus 902. Communication interface 918 provides a two-way datacommunication coupling to a network link 920 that is connected to alocal network 922. As an example, the communication interface 918 isconnected to an antennae and performs wireless communications to anetwork, such as Internet ISP 926 or local network 922. In anotherexample, the communication interface 918 connects to a mobile phonenetwork to complete calls initiated by the process of the presentinvention. In still another example, communication interface 918 is anintegrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide adata communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line.In yet another example, communication interface 918 is a local areanetwork (LAN) card that provides a data communication connection to acompatible LAN. In any such implementation, communication interface 918sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals thatcarry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 920 typically provides data communication through one ormore networks to other data devices. For example, network link 920 mayprovide a connection through local network 922 to a host computer 924 orto data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 926.ISP 926 in turn provides data communication services through the worldwide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the“Internet” 928. Local network 922 and Internet 928 both use electrical,electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. Thesignals through the various networks and the signals on network link 920and through communication interface 918, which carry the digital data toand from computer system 900, are exemplary forms of carrier wavestransporting the information.

Computer system 900 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), network link 920 and communicationinterface 918. In the Internet example, a server 930 might transmit arequested code for an application program through Internet 928, ISP 926,local network 922 and communication interface 918.

The received code may be executed by processor 904 as it is received,and/or stored in storage device 910, or other non-volatile storage forlater execution. In this manner, computer system 900 may obtainapplication code in the form of a carrier wave.

Scope

In this disclosure, including in the claims, certain process steps areset forth in a particular order, and alphabetic and alphanumeric labelsmay be used to identify certain steps. Unless specifically stated in thedisclosure, embodiments of the invention are not limited to anyparticular order of carrying out such steps. In particular, the labelsare used merely for convenient identification of steps, and are notintended to imply, specify or require a particular order of carrying outsuch steps.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evidentthat various modifications and changes may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. A method of managing a phone device of a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), the method comprising the steps of: displaying a set of calllists, comprising at least one of a call history list, a missed calllist, an incoming calls list, an outgoing calls list, and a receivedcall list, and an address list; selecting one of the displayed calllists; retrieving the selected call list from a memory location of thephone device; displaying at least a portion of the selected call list ona screen of the PDA, wherein the PDA includes a tap recognizer, and thePDA is configured to select a tapped list record and to initiate a phonecall on the phone device; wherein: the selected call list includes a setof records, each record including a name and a number; the step ofdisplaying comprises displaying the name and number for each record inthe at least a portion of the selected call list; and performing a firsttap type on a displayed number of a specific record provides a first setof information related to the specific record; performing a first taptype on a displayed name of the specific record results in a second setof information different from the first set of information related tothe specific record; and performing a second tap type on the specificrecord initiates the phone call to a number in the specific record. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of call lists comprisesa call history list, a missed call list, an incoming calls list, anoutgoing calls list, a received call list, and an address list.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the first set of informationcomprises a set of phone numbers associated with the specific record. 4.The method according to claim 3, wherein the first set of information isprovided in the form of a drop down menu positioned at the displayednumber of the specific record with the selected list in the background.5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set ofinformation comprises information related to the selected list.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein: when the selected list comprises acall history list, the second set of information comprises a summary ofthe call making the specific record.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein the summary comprises a name, date, time, and duration of thecall making the specific record.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein: the set of call lists comprises a call history list, a missedcall list, an incoming calls list, an outgoing calls list, a receivedcall list, and an address list; the first set of information comprises aset of phone numbers associated with the specific record and the firstset of information is provided in the form of a drop down menupositioned at the displayed number of the specific record with theselected list in the background; when the selected list comprises a callhistory list, the second set of information comprises a summary of thecall making the specific record comprising a name, date, time, andduration of the call making the specific record; and the personaldigital assistant is a handheld computer having a dedicated writing areaentirely separate from the touch sensitive display.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the method is embodied in a set ofcomputer readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, causethe computer to perform the steps of the method.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the method is embodied in a set ofcomputer readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, causethe computer to perform the steps of the method.